Venetian blind assembly and bottom rail therefor



Sept. i3, W49. v F. L. sTUTz 2,482,036

Y VENETIAN BLINDk ASSEMBLY AND BOTTOM RAIL THEREFOR Filed Jan. 1e, '194e mkg/EMM Patented Sept. 13, 1949 VENETIAN BLIND ASSEMBLY AND BOTTOM RAIL THEREFOR Frederick L. Stutz, Sturgis, VMich., assignor to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 16, 1946, Serial No. 641,506

13 claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in Venetian blind assembly and bottom rail therefor.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved bottom rail for Venetian blinds which may be economically produced and includes means for effective guiding of pull cords to and within the bottom rail and minimizes the wear thereon.

Second, to provide a Venetian blind assembly including ladder tapes and pull cord and bottom rail in which the ladder tapes and pull cords are effectively associated with the bottom rail, the bottom rail being provided with non-metallic pull cord guide members.

Third, to provide a structure having these advantages which is attractive in appearance and comparatively light in weight.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a Venetian blind embodying the invention in partially collapsed position, parts being shown conventionally,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the bottom bar in section on a line corresponding to line 2--2 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View mainly in longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom view of the bottom bar with the ladder tape and cord guide member retaining clip removed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View mainly in section on a line corresponding to lines 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 3:

Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective view of one of the pull cord guide members.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, I represents the headbar, 2, 2 the pull cords which in this embodiment constitute a single cord, the guide pulleys for the pull cords within the head bar not being illustrated. rhe ladder tapes 3 are of well known type and designed to support the slats 4 which are conventionally illustrated.

The bottom bar designated generally by the numeral 5 is of horizontalflattened cross section, being formed of sheet metal rolled upon itself, the edges of the sheet metal being indicated at 6 in one edge of the bottom bar, desirably the inner edge so that the outer edge and top and bottom present jointless surfaces.

The top wall of the bottom bar is provided with horizontally spaced elongated slots 8 extending transversely of the bottom bar. The bottom wall 9 of the bottom bar is provided with holes it in opposed relation to the slots 8 and aligned therewith, these holes being round, in the structure illustrated.

The pull cord guide members Il are, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, formed of molded plastic material and have elongated holes i2 therein, there being flanges I3 on the upper end of the guide members which lit into the slots 8 in the top of the bottom bar engaging the side edges of the slots thereby preventing rotative movement of the guide members in the bottom bar.

The holes l0 in the bottom of the bottom bar are of such size as to permit the introduction of the guide members therethroughwith the lower ends of the guide members projecting into the holes. This further supports the guide members against transverse or longitudinal movement in the bottom bar.

The guide members as illustrated have downwardly converging sides I4 with recesses l5 therein through which the cords may be extended. The edges of the recesses Li merge into the holes 8 with curved surfaces as shown at I6.

The lower ends of the ladder tapes are desirably folded as shown at I7, these folds being Stitched as indicated at I8. The ladder tapes overlap the lower ends of the guide members so that the ladder tape retaining clips I9 serve the double function of retaining the guide members and securing the ladder tapes. .These clips are provided with spring fingers 20 which engage the edges of the bottom bar.

To prevent longitudinal movement of the clips, they are provided with lugs or tongues 2| which engage the slots 22 provided at opposite sides of the openings i6 so that when the clips are engaged they cannot shift longitudinally of the bottom bar. These clips and the manner of their engagement with the ladder tapes with the exception of these lugs are substantially the structure shown in the Grassby Jr. Patent 2,079,852 issued May 1l, 1937. However, in that case the clips have no relation to the pull cord securing means.

With the parts thus arranged, the pull cord is rove through the guide members as is shown in the drawings and is effectively guided and attached to the bottom bar with a minimum of 3 wear on the cord resulting from repeated manipulation of the pull cord.

The structure is economical in its parts and ln their assembly and is highly attractive in appearance and is easily kept clean which characterlstic, it will be appreciated, is highly desirable in` Venetian blinds.

I havevnot attempted' to illustrate'roridescribe the various adaptations such as modifications in shape which might be desirable to meet different cases or conditions as it is 1believed that-".thiszd-SP- closure will enable those skilled in the artxto embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described mylinventonfwhat claim as new and desire"to"secure' by"'Letters Patent, is:

1. In a Venetian blind, the=combinationfofr a horizontally attened tubular bottom bar. having longitudinally spaced transverse slots inthe top wall thereof and openings in the bottom wall .thereof oppsed to said-slots; pull'cord guide members of moldedV plas-tichaving elongated holes .therethrough registering 'with said slots in vsaid -top wall and'ha'ving top flanges engaging the-side .e'dges of theslots in the top wall, said guide mem- :bers r having. downwardly converging side walls :with recesses therein-opening -to said holes there- 4:ois-the -innerfe'dges of the recesses being curved to merge into said holes; lthe guide members being :introducible through the openings in the bottom 2wal1 of the bar, the guide Ymembers having curved .lend .portions extending into' said bottom openings,

r-ladderstapes, a pullcordi -rove through adjacent 'guide members; the lowerends of the ladder tapes :being lwra-ppedf around the edges of the bottoni A:bar toloverlie' the bottom thereof, and clips havingopposed-pairs of springngers retainingly engaging the edges of the bottom bar and the -tape `:ends: therearound, the lower-clip engaged ends of vsaid fla'dder tapes overlapping the lower ends of lsaid guide `members whereby the-guide members :are lretained by saidclips, the bottom bar having slots at' eachsicle of said bottom-openings, said :clips having lugs engaging saidslots.

2, In a Venetian blind, the combination of a horizontally attene`d tubular bottom bar having longitudinally spaced transverse slots in the vtop wallther'eof -Iandf openings in thefbottom wall uthereof'opposed to said slots, pull cord guidemem- .bersf of vmolded plastic having elongated holes therethrough registering with said slots insaid etcpawall and engagingthe side edges of the slots iin'fthe:top'rwallfsaid'guide members having re- ",cessesithereiny opening to said 'holes thereof, the

guide m'embersbeingf introducible through the:

:openings in thebottom' wall -of' the-'banfiadder ;.2tapes,ia pull voord reve-through adjacent guide L-members; the-lower endsofthe ladder tapes being wrapped around the edges'ofi the'bottom bar to ,overlie the bottom thereof, and clips-springably :engagingztheedges of the bottom barand the :tape vendsftherei-Lround, lthe Ylower kclip engaged endsof said ladderxtapes.overlapping the-lower @ends .',ofa` said guide. vmembers whereby the-guide `anembers are vretainedrby said clips.

a3. In az/Venetian` blind, `the combination fwith ladder, itapesflandua: pull cord, ofa Ihorizontally .gnattened tubular. bottom Abar having spaced holes :inthe top .wall :thereof and openings in the bottom iliviall :thereof :opposed to'said holes, pull-cord guide members having holes therein registering with saidzholes 'in said .top wall and havingl top =1anges .engaging theredges'iofi .the `holes 1in the' top wall, said; guide. .memberszhaving side .recesses therein ".openingxto said holes thereof, the `guide 'members being introducible through the opening in the bottom wall with the guide members extending into said bottom openings, the pull cord being rove through adjacent guide members, the lower ends 5 of the ladder tapes being wrapped around the edges of the bottom bar to overli'e the bottom ,.t-hereof, and clips' having spring members retainingly engaging the bottombar and the tape ends therearound, said clips retainingly engaging the "loi'lower ends of said guide members whereby the guidemembers?areretained by said clips.

fl'aljln a Venetian blind, the combination with laddertapes and a,pull cord, of a horizontally lattened tubular'bottom bar having spaced holes inthe top wall' thereof and openings in the botwall, said guide members having side recesses 'therein opening-to'said `holes thereof, 'the-,guide members being introducible through the opening in the bottom wall with the guide members'extending into said `bottom openings, the pullcord vbeing rove through adjacent guide members; and

means for Iretaining said `guide members in the vbottom bar.

i5. In a Venetian blind,the combination of' a tubular bottom bar having holes in the top thereof and openings in the bottomv thereof aligned'with said top holes, puilcord guide members having apertures therethrough registering with said'top holesand having portions extending into the said top holes and having sideopenings communicating withsaid apertures, the-guide members being introducble through the bottom openings with `portions thereof extending into said bottom openings, a pull cordrove'through adjacent, guide -membersyand means vsupportingly engaging' 'the `'40 lower ends of saidgguidemembers.

6. A4A= horizontally' flattened tubulary bottom vbar for Venetian blinds having a transverse slot in the top 'wall' thereof and an'opening in the bottom wall thereof opposed to said slot, a pull cord guide 5 Lmember ofimoided Aplastic having anelongated lhole therein registering withY said slot inv said top wall and having top flanges engaging the edge'of lthe the slot yin the top "wall, said guide member 'ihaving laside'recess therein opening to said hol'e thereof, the guide member ybeing introducible 'through the opening in the bottom wall with the A'guide-memberextending into said bottom opening, and a ladder tape attaching cliphaving spring fingers retaininglyengaging the edges of the botv:tomi bar, said clip also constituting means for Vretaining said guide'member within said bar.

.7.. A tubularhbottom bar for Venetian blinds having a top hole and an opposed bottom opening, a pull cord guide member having an aperture :thereinregistering withA said hole in the top of the bottom bar andzengaging the edge ofV said hole, said guide :member having a vpull cord -reoeiving side opening therein opening to said aper- .qture thereof, the guide member vbeing introducible throughithe opening inthe bottom .wall with the guide memberextending into thefbottom opening, ,and means for retaining said guide member.

:8. siliv.tubular .bottom 4bar for Venetian blinds having a top hole and an opposed bottomopen- `ing, va pull cordA guide member having an aper- :duciblethrough'the opening in the bottom wall,

and a ladder attaching member detachably engaged with said bar and constituting a retaining means for said guide member.

9. A tubular bottom bar for Venetian blinds having a top hole and an opposed bottom opening, a pull cord guide member having an aperture therein registering with said hole in the top of the bottom bar, said guide member having a pull cord side` opening therein opening to said aperture thereof, the guide members being introducible through the opening in the bottom Wall, and means for retaining said guide member in position Within said bar.

10. A tubular bottom bar for Venetian blinds having a transversely elongated hole in the top thereof and an opposed opening in the bottom thereof, a pull cord guide member having an elongated pull cord aperture therein registering with said hole in the top of said bottom bar and having parts thereof engaging the side edges of such hole, the guide member having a side opening therein opening to the said pull oord aperture thereof, the guide members being introducible through the opening in the bottom of said bottom bar, and a ladder tape attaching means constituting retaining means for the guide member.

11. A tubular bottom bar for Venetian blinds having a transversely elongated hole in the top thereof and an opposed opening in the bottom thereof, a pull cord guide member having an elongated pull cord aperture therein registering with said hole in the top of said bottom bar and having parts thereof engaging the side edges of such hole, the guide member having a side opening therein opening to the said pull cord aperture thereof, the guide members being introducible through the opening in the bottom of said bottom bar, and means for retaining said guide member Within said bar.

12. A tubular bottom bar for Venetian blinds having a hole in the top thereof and an opposed opening in the bottom thereof, a pull cord guide member of molded material having a pull cord aperture therein registering with said hole in the top of said bottom bar, the guide member having a side opening therein opening to the said pull cord aperture thereof, the guide members being introducible through the opening in the bottom of said bottom bar with the guide member projeeting into the bottom opening, and a ladder tape attaching means constituting retaining means for the guide member.

13. A tubular bottom bar for Venetian blinds having a hole in the top thereof and an opposed opening in the bottom thereof, a pull cord guide member having a pull cord aperture therein registering With said hole in the top of said bottorn bar, the guide member having a side opening therein opening to the said pull cord aperture thereof, the guide members being introducible through the opening in the bottom of said bottom bar with the guide member projecting into the bottom opening, and means for retaining said guide member.

FREDERICK L. STUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,079,852 Grassby May 11, 1937 2,421,505 Hunter June 3, 1947 

